President Jokowi Encourages Tree Planting for Better Air Quality

Jakarta – The Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) encourages all of the stakeholders like the ministry or agency to create better air quality in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) areas by planting the tree. This was stated by Environment and Forestry Minister, Siti Nurbaya. 

According to her, all operational coordination to improve air quality is led by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

"President Jokowi emphasized that all stakeholders, including government offices, and the public should plant as many trees as possible, and regulate the spacing," Minister Nurbaya said at the Presidential Palace Complex on Monday. 

Trees emit O2 during the day so all elements must jointly plant trees to provide coolness. This is because the environment must be maintained together, not just the government, she added. 

She also said: "So, trees are friends of life, at the same time, Mr. President asked to be mobilized together and asked for support."

According to Minister Nurbaya, President Jokowi has ordered ministries and agencies to focus on activities to handle air pollution control in Jabodetabek because this concerns health. Therefore, the ways to solve it must be health-based.

"All ministries or institutions are asked to be firm in taking policy and operational steps in the field. In the context of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry on law enforcement, on sources of pollution, especially from the power plant industry and others, as well as vehicle emission tests that must be strict," the Minister concluded.